Ladder section carrier construction

ABSTRACT

A carrier construction for disconnected sections of a hunter&#39;s tree ladder has a pair of spaced apart upright rails, joined at corresponding ends by upper and lower cross members. Each rail has a vertical slot terminating at its upper end in a transverse passage. Individual ladder sections may pass through the passages into the vertical slot and be accommodated therein for storage or transport. The carrier facilitates the handling of a plurality of disconnected ladder sections.

This invention relates to a carrier especially adapted for use in facilitating the carrying of elongate objects such as separable sections of a hunter's tree ladder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are many instances in which separable sections may be joined to one another in such manner as to form a support of substantial length. For example, a hunter often makes use of a tree stand which is secured to a tree at an elevated position so as to enable the hunter to occupy a position at a desired position above ground level. To facilitate the installation and removal of the tree stand from the tree, as well as to facilitate the hunter's traversing the distance between the ground and the tree stand, it is common to utilize ladders formed of a plurality of separable sections which may be assembled to form a ladder of substantial length. Such a ladder conventionally is composed of a plurality of sections each of which has a tubular body from which lateral projections extend to form rungs or steps that are spaced longitudinally of the body in such manner as to enable a person to ascend to and descend from the tree stand. Normally, the ladder sections are assembled in prolongation of each other and placed against or secured to the trunk of a tree so that a person may traverse the distance from ground level to the tree stand. When the ladder no longer is required to be used, it is removed from the tree trunk and the sections disconnected from one another.

Convenient carrying of a plurality of individual, disconnected ladder sections is challenging. Various proposals for such purpose have been made heretofore, and such proposals usually involve the strapping or wrapping of the individual sections, thereby enabling a person to carry the disconnected sections in bundled condition. The bundling of separated ladder sections sometimes can be quite awkward and unsuccessful in that the sections sometimes may separate from the bundle or interfere with the person's carrying other equipment, such as a rifle, ammunition, bow and arrows, and the tree stand itself.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a carrier facilitating the transport and storage of a plurality of disconnected elongate ladder sections.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention comprises a carrier for disconnected ladder sections which, when assembled with one another, form an elongate ladder which may be used by a person to climb from ground level to a higher elevation and return. The ladder sections have cooperating sockets and extensions which removably may be accommodated in the sockets to form an elongate ladder. At longitudinally spaced intervals each ladder section has a plurality of laterally extending projections which may be used as rungs or steps for the support of a person during ascent or descent. At least some of the ladder sections have stabilizing projections which are arranged in V-form so as partially to embrace a tree trunk and provide stability for the ladder when it is placed against the trunk in condition for use.

The carrier comprises a pair of upright, spaced apart rails connected at corresponding ends by upper and lower cross members. Each rail has a longitudinally extending slot therein terminating at its upper end in a lateral passage which is open at one edge of the rail. Each passage and each slot are of such width as slideably to accommodate the ladder sections when they are disconnected from one another. Preferably, each rail includes a latch which is operable selectively to close and open the passage, thereby preventing the inadvertent movement of a ladder section out of the carrier. The upper cross member of the body has a downwardly concave recess therein for the accommodation of a person's hand, thereby enabling such person comfortably to lift and carry the carrier.

THE DRAWINGS

Apparatus constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a isometric view, partly in section, of a typical ladder section;

FIG. 2A is an isometric view of the carrier with one ladder section accommodated therein; and

FIG. 2B is a view similar to FIG. 2A, but illustrating a plurality of ladder sections accommodated in the carrier.

THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENT

A carrier constructed in accordance with the invention is designated generally by the reference character 1 and is adapted for use with a plurality of separable ladder sections one of which is shown at 2 in FIG. 1. Each ladder section has an elongate body 3 terminating at one end in a reduced extension 4 that preferably is of quadrilateral configuration. The opposite end of the body 3 forms a socket 5 into which an adjacent extension 4 of a companion ladder section 2 telescopingly may be accommodated. The socket also is of quadrilateral configuration so that, when an extension 4 is telescoped in a socket, there will be no tendency on the part of the two adjacent sections to rotate relative to one another.

Adjacent one end of the body 3 is a pair of stabilizer arms 6 and 7 which project from the body 3 and form an included angle of about 90°. At longitudinally spaced intervals are at least two oppositely extending projections 8 which form steps or rungs which a person may use to climb or descend a ladder formed by a plurality of the sections 2 fitted together in prolongation of each other.

In use, a selected number of ladder sections 2 are fitted to one another so as to span the distance between ground level and an elevated level which the hunter wishes to occupy. The stabilizer bars 6 and 7 may partially embrace a tree trunk so as to minimize any tendency on the part of the ladder to slide or rotate relative to the trunk. If desired, security straps, not shown, may be used to encircle both the tree trunk and adjacent ladder sections.

The carrier 1 comprises a pair of parallel, upright rails 9 and 10 connected at their lower ends to a lower horizontal cross member or base 11 and at their upper ends by an upper cross member 12. The cross members span the distance between the rails and the base 11 is of sufficient area to support the carrier in upright condition on a surface 13 such as the ground.

The rail 9 has therein a vertically extending slot 14 and the rail 10 has a corresponding slot 15 therein. The lower end of each slot 14 and 15 terminates short of the base 11, whereas the upper end of each such slot communicates with a lateral passage 16 and 17, respectively, each of which is open outwardly and forms a passage in communication with the associated vertical slot 14 and 15. Preferably, the outer end of the passage 16 may be opened and closed by a latch 18 pivoted to the rail 9 as at 19. A similar latch 20 is pivoted as at 21 to the rail 10 so as selectively to open and close the passage 17.

The lower edge of the upper cross member 12 preferably is provided with a downwardly concave recess 22 to facilitate a person's carrying the carrier.

To condition the apparatus for use, the several ladder sections 2 are disconnected from one another. The keepers 18 and 20 are moved to a position in which the respective passages 16 and 17 are open. A ladder section 2 then may be passed through the passages 16 and 17 into the slots 14 and 15 and lowered to the bottom of the latter as is indicated in FIG. 2A. Each ladder section 2 has a length greater than the spacing between the rails 9 and 10, thereby enabling each ladder section to extend beyond both of the rails.

Following the accommodation of the first ladder section in the slots 14 and 15, additional ladder sections may be accommodated in the same manner in such slots as is shown in FIG. 2B. Preferably, the height of the rails 9 and 10 and the associated slots 14 and 15 are such as to accommodate a plurality of ladder sections 2. Following placement of the uppermost ladder sections in the slots of the rails, the latches may be moved to positions in which they close the passages 16 and 17 and thereby avoid inadvertent separation of a ladder section from the carrier.

One of the advantages of providing the downwardly concave recess 22 in the lower surface of the upper cross member 12 is that the full height of the slots may be utilized and still provide adequate space for the accommodation of a person's hand between the uppermost ladder section and the cross member. Another advantage of providing the recess in the position indicated is that the supporting of the carrier from beneath the cross member 12 enables the carrier to be carried at a higher level than would be the case if a handle were secured to the upper edge of the cross member. This arrangement thus helps to avoid engagement between the base of the carrier and ground or snow when the carrier is transported manually.

Preferably, the spacing between adjacent projections 8 of each ladder section 2 is less than the spacing between the rails 9 and 10. As a consequence, at least one of the projections 8 will be positioned between the rails 9 and 10 when the associated ladder section occupies the slots 14 and 15. Consequently, any sliding movement longitudinally of the ladder section 2 will cause at least one of the projections 8 to engage a rail and thereby prevent separation of the ladder section from the carrier.

The material from which the carrier is made may be wood, aluminum, rigid plastic, or any combination thereof so as to provide a lightweight, nonrusting, durable construction.

The disclosed embodiment is representative of a presently preferred form of the invention, but is intended to be illustrative rather than definitive thereof. The invention is defined in the claims. 

1. A carrier construction for supporting one or more elongate objects, said construction comprising a body having a pair of spaced apart, upright rails connected to one another at opposite ends by upper and lower cross members, each of said rails having therein a longitudinally extending slot of such length and width as slideably to accommodate one or more of said objects, each said rail having a passage in communication with the associated slot in such rail and of such width as to enable each of said objects to pass into and out of said slots via the associated passages.
 2. The construction according to claim 1 wherein said upper cross member spans said rails and provides a support for carrying said body.
 3. The construction according to claim 2 wherein said upper cross member has in its lower surface a downwardly concave recess.
 4. The construction according to claim 1 wherein each of said objects has a length greater than the space between said rails.
 5. The construction according to claim 4 wherein each of said objects has at least two spaced laterally extending projections, the spacing between adjacent projections being less than the space between said rails.
 6. The construction according to claim 1 including latch means carried by each of said rails for selectively opening and closing the associated passage.
 7. The construction according to claim 1 wherein said lower cross member is of such area as to support said body in an upright position.
 8. A carrier construction for supporting one or more separable, elongate ladder sections, said construction comprising a body having a pair of spaced apart, upright parallel rails connected at corresponding ends by lower and upper cross members, each said ladder section having a length greater than the spacing between said rails, each said rail having therein an elongate slot extending between said cross members, each said slot having a width greater than that of each of said sections, thereby enabling each said slot to accommodate any of said sections, each said rail having adjacent one end thereof a laterally extending passage in communication with the slot in the associated rail, each said passage being of such width as slideably to accommodate any one of said sections, thereby enabling any one of said sections to pass into and out of said slots via said passages.
 9. The construction according to claim 8 wherein said upper cross member has a lower surface in which is a downwardly concave recess.
 10. The construction according to claim 8 wherein each of said cross members is of such length as to span said rails.
 11. The construction according to claim 8 including latch means for selectively opening and closing each said passage.
 12. The construction according to claim 8 wherein said lower cross member is of such area as to support said body in an upright position.
 13. The construction according to claim 8 wherein each of said sections has at least two longitudinally spaced, laterally extending projections, the spacing between adjacent projections being less that the space between said rails.
 14. The construction according to claim 8 wherein each of a selected plurality of said sections has a socket at one end thereof and a reduced cross-sectional extension at its opposite end, the cross sectional area of said opposite end being sufficiently less than that of said socket as to enable said socket to accommodate an extension corresponding to said reduced cross-sectional extension.
 15. The construction according to claim 14 wherein said extension and said socket are of telescoping quadrilateral configuration.
 16. The construction according to claim 8 wherein each said section has a pair of stabilizing arms extending laterally from said ladder section and forming an included angle.
 17. The construction according to claim 16 wherein said included angle in substantially 90°. 